Farm Report: Kernels make late-inning rally only to fall in extras

AAA: Lehigh Valley IronPigs 7, Rochester Red Wings 2

The IronPigs scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. SP Andrew Albers was the one pitching for the Twins and he only lasted 4 innings before being yanked from the game. He ended up five earned runs, including two home runs to 2B Jesmuel Valentin and (this one’s for Jesse) DH Peter Bourjos.

The rest of the pitching was fine for the Red Wings. RP D.J. Baxendale pitched 2 scoreless innings to bring his AAA ERA down to 0.96. RP J.T. Chargois pitched in the bottom of the 8th and gave up one earned run and one unearned run (shout-out to LF Adam Brett Walker on the fielding error).

1B Trevor Plouffe showed us that his rehab assignment is likely nearing its end. He was the offensive star for the Red Wings, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double.

[Box Score]

AA: Chattanooga Lookouts 3, Jacksonville Suns 2

Lookouts SP Kohl Stewart had a great start, giving up only two earned runs over a season-high 8 innings of work. Although he allowed seven hits and four walks and struggled a bit early on, Stewart was able to limit the actual damage done and obviously earned the win over the Suns.

The Lookouts scored all three of their runs for the night in the 6th inning. 2B Levi Michael led off with a triple, and CF Zack Granite was hit by a pitch. In the next at bat, SS Engelb Vielma bunted and Michael was able to score. Vielma and Granite both scored next on a 2-RBI single by DH Niko Goodrum.

[Box Score]

High A: Charlotte Stone Crabs 5, Ft. Myers Miracle 3

The Miracle jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top 1st inning thanks mostly to a two-run homerun by 3B T.J. White, but things unraveled quickly. Miracle SP Fernando Romero struggled from the beginning, walking to load the bases in the bottom of the 1st and coughing up two runs before getting out of the inning. In the bottom of the next inning, the Crabs tied the game up thanks to a throwing error by SS Nick Gordon. The inning after that, 2B Grant Kay hit and RBI single to give the Crabs the lead, and they never looked back.

the Miracle batters only mustered five hits all game, although lead-off hitter DH Tanner English walked three times.

[Box Score]

Low A: Peoria Chiefs 7, Cedar Rapids Kernels 4

The Kernels scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game 4-4 and force it into extras, but it unfortunately did not end well. Pitching his second inning of relief in the top of the 10th, RP Anthony McIver gave up three runs to the Chiefs which the Kernels were unable to answer, losing the tight game 7-3.

3B Christian Ibarra gave the Kernels an early lead with a solo-home run in the bottom of the 1st, but that would be the only extra-base hit for the Kernels in the game. The Chiefs quickly tied things up in the top of the 2nd, and took the lead with two runs in the top of the 3rd. 2B Eliezer Alvarez hit a solo home run off Kernels SP Lachlan Wells in the top of the 6th to make the score 4-1.

The Kernels 8th inning rally came with two outs in the bottom of the 8th and was helped along by sloppy play from the Chiefs. With the bases loaded, the Chiefs allowed a passed ball on which DH Christian Cavaness scored. SS Nelson Molina then hit an RBI single, but it was a throwing error by Alvarez that allowed the tying run to score.

Although the rally was nice, the Kernels couldn’t get anymore done. As mentioned, they lost in the 10th inning.

[Box Score]

Rookie: Johnson City Cardinals 5, Elizabethton Twins 2

The baby Twins had nine hits, all of them singles, but couldn’t get much done. 1B Lewin Diaz had the only RBI for the team, with the only other run scoring thanks to a fielding error by Cardinals 2B J.R. Davis.

Speaking of errors, 2B Travis Blankenhorn had a fielding error in the game. So did 3B Mitchell Kranson. SS Ariel Montesino changed things up by committing a throwing error.

The brightest spot here was Twins RP Austin Tribby, who pitched 2 perfect innings in relief.

[Box Score]